John w



1. W. SMITH;v

Gas Retort.

N. PETERS. mm, WM l C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IV. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

GAS-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,704, dated June'BO, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SMITH, of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Illuminating-Gas; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an end view; Fig. 2 a vertical section in the line 1 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a horizontal section of the retort in the line 3 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, an end view of the retort, with the end plate removed and Fig. 5, a perspective view of one of the movable partitions of the retort.v

The letters of reference indicate the same parts in the different figures Wherever they occur.

My improvements relate more particularly to the retort and its immediate appurtenances, of a cheap and portable apparatus for the manufacture of gas for illuminating purposes, from oil or other fatty matter for use in families. The following is a description of the apparatus and of the manner in which it is operated.

A is a stove or furnace which may be of any suitable size or form to burn either wood or coal. In this I place a retort (B) which may extend beyond the stove as shown in the drawing or be entirely inclosed therein. The retort is furnished with a supply pipe (C) through which the oil or melted grease is slowly admitted. This pipe is surmounted by a hopper or bell-mouthed funnel (a) and has an enlargement (b) between two stop cocks (c and d). From the other end of the retort a pipe (D) conducts.

the gas when formed into a gasometer or receiver (E) of any convenient form or construction. A small outlet pipe (e) having a stop cock is placed in the underside of D for the urpose of discharging any refuse matter t at may be carried over with the gas. Vertical partitions (F), one of which is shown in Fig. 5, are placed in the retort at equal distances. They have projections (f) to regulate their positions in the retort. These partitions each have in one edge a semicircular notch t, and in the other or opposite edge two similar openings, the single one being in the center of the edge and the others on each side of the center respectively, so arranged that no part of the said openings shall be vertically opposite to another. The partitions F are so arranged in the retort that the positions of the edges with one opening alternate with those of the edges having two, t. e. each alternate partition is reversed, No. 1 having its single opening uppermost that it may correspond with the entrance of the pipe D. Each of the partitions F have an eye or staple by which they can be readily drawn from the retort by means of a hooked rod when they require cleaning, they themselves acting as scra ers Which remove all solid matter from t e interior of the retort.

The partitions being arranged in the retort as above described and the head secured on in an air-tight manner the retort is heated to a sufficient degree, the sto cocks c and d being left open until a moisture is efiectually expelled. The cock d, is then closed and oil or melted grease is poured into the pipe O, until the bulb or reservoir b is iilled, or until enough is admitted to make-the quantity of gas required atthat time. The cock d is then partially opened and the contents allowed to pass very slowly into the heated retort, care being taken that it does not enter too fast, the cock c being closed to prevent any escape of oil or gas in that direction. The oil after entering the first compartment of the retort Hows through the double opening in N o. 5, then through the single openings in No. 4 in the direction of the red arrows and again uniting in passing through the o enin in N o. 3 forms currents through the W ole length of the retort, alternatdly united and divided, thus diffusing the liquid over the bottom of the retort and exposing more particles to the action of the heated surface. The gas formed by the decomposition of the oil rises in the several compartments formed by the partitions and passes toward the receiver through the openings in the partitions, forming currents (as shown by the blue arrows) which unite and divide alternately, crossing the currents of the fluid. The partitions and the arrangement of the o enings retard the currents and aided by t em purify the gas in its passage to the receiver by causing the impurities to settle upon the retort and sides of the partitions, from whence they are readily removed.

Illuminating gas for private use can be manufactured by the above described appacrossing each otherfand alternately dividing and uniting in the manner described and ior the purposes specified v In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this speciication before two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN W. SMITH Witnesses CHAs. EVERETT, A. POLLAK. 

